Poll: Mary Landrieu Leads Likely GOP Challenger By 10

Sen. Mary Landrieu's (D-LA) re-election prospects look as strong as they did six months ago, according to the latest survey from Democratic-leaning Public Policy Polling.

The survey showed Landrieu leading her most likely Republican challenger, Rep. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), 50 percent to 40 percent — identical to PPP's findings in February. But PPP's latest showed Landrieu with a pretty mediocre approval rating: 46 percent of Louisiana voters said they approve of her job performance, while 43 percent said they disapproved.

As a red state Democratic incumbent, Landrieu will almost certainly be a top target for Republicans in 2014. But her strength against Cassidy, who announced his intention to run for Senate in 2014, may demonstrate her residual strength. It could also provide further evidence that she won't pay a political price for her support of a measure that would have expanded background checks on gun buyers, a vote that separated her from four fellow red state Democrats.

In fact, a PPP survey in May suggested that Landrieu actually drew a boost for her vote in favor of background checks.